Adhesive applying apparatus



p 9, 9 c. F. SCHAEFER ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 16, 1958 INVENTOR. 1%??165 E ams/1? Sept. 19, 1 c. F. SCHAEFERADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept.19, 1961 c. F. SCHAEFER 3,000,347

ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. (MQAL ES ICT/LYZ'I-IHE'FER p 1951 c. F. SCHAEFER 3,000,347

ADHESIVE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY/%?Wf ATTOR/VEK United States Patent 3,000,347 ADHESIVE APPLYINGAPPARATUS Charles F. Schaefer, 1470 Main St, Stratford, Conn. Filed Oct.16, 1958, Ser. No. 767,666 8 Claims. c1. 118--245) This inventionrelates generally to coating apparatus, and is particularly directed toimprovements in a machine for applying vegetable glue, hot animal glue,resin glue, latex or other adhesives to sheets of paper, cloth, leather,cardboard, plastic or other similar materials.

In adhesive applying machines of the kind to which this inventionrelates, the sheets to be coated with adhesive are fed manually into themachine Where their upper surfaces are coated with the adhesive, and thesuccessive sheets are delivered from the machine onto a conveyor withthe adhesive coated surfaces thereof facing upwardly. Such machinesgenerally include a coating roller, a system of rollers for supplyingadhesive from an overhead tank or reservoir to the surface of thecoating roller, feed rollers disposed below the coating roller andeffective to feed the successive sheets past the underside of thecoating roller for receiving the adhesive from the latter, and strippingelements engaging the surface of the coating roller in back of the lineof contact of the latter with the successive sheets in order to ensurethat the latter will not stick to the surface of the coating roller andwill be delivered to the conveyor for transporting the coated sheetsaway from the adhesive applyin g machine.

In adhesive applying machines of the described character, it isnecessary, from time to time, to clean the feed rollers and also toclean the stripping elements in order to remove the lumps of glue,pieces of paper or other foreign matter with which the latter becomeclogged. However, the feed rollers and stripping elements, in theiroperative positions disposed under and in back of the coating roller areinaccessible for cleaning purposes so that, a practical machine of thedescribed character must have some means for affording ready access tothe feed rollers and stripping elements.

In the existing machines for applying adhesive to the upper surfaces ofsuccessive sheets, access to the feed rollers and the stripping elementshas been afforded by providing for the movement of the coating rollerfrom its usual operating position. However, by reason of the relativelygreat weight of the coating roller, it has been necessary to suspend thecoating roller from a complicated arm arrangement provided with a handwheel and worm gear drive for effecting the movement of the coatingroller upwardly away from its operative position, so that the heavycoating roller can be raised by female operators without any excessivestrain. Although such an arrangement provides a large mechanicaladvantage for lifting the heavy coating roller with the exertion of arelatively small force by the operator, it is a consequence of suchlarge mechanical advantage that the operator must exert such relativelysmall force for a long period of time. Thus, where the operator turns ahand wheel in order to eifect the lifting of the coating roller, thehand wheel must be turned through a large number of revolutions in orderto lift the coating roller to its inoperative position for aifordingaccess to the feed rollers and the stripping elements, whereby arelatively long period of time is required for effecting the necessarycleaning and for returning the adhesive applying machine to itsoperative condition. When the coating roller is mounted for movementaway from its operative position in order to afford cleaning access tothe feed rollers and the stripping elements, as above, the movablesuspension for the coating roller becomes a possible source of PatentedSept. 19, 1961 undesirable vibration in the machine and, further, afteran extended period of use, play frequently develops in the mechanicalsystem for effecting the movement to the coating roller or in thebearings of the latter, whereupon the necessary working clearance isundesirably reduced between the coating roller and a transfer roller bywhich the adhesive is applied to the latter.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amachine having a coating roller for applying adhesive to the uppersurfaces of successive sheets which are fed thereunder by feed rollersand which are removed from the surface of the coating roller bystripping elements, and wherein the feed rollers and stripping elementsare made accessible for cleaning in an improved manner in order to avoidthe above mentioned disadvantages of the existing arrangements forpermitting cleaning'of the feed rollers and stripping elements inmachines of the described character.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a machineof the described character wherein the heavy coating roller is rotatableabout a relatively fixed axis in order to simplify and increase therigidity and useful life of the structural elements by which the coatingroller is supported, while providing a movable suspension for therelatively light weight feed rollers and stripping elements so that thelatter can be conveniently and rapidly moved from their inaccessibleoperative positions under the coating roller to inoperative or cleaningpositions where they are exposed and easily accessible.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the above objects areachieved by providing a machine of the described character wherein thestripping elements are mounted on a laterally extending rod which, atits opposite ends, is suspended from a first pair of arms pivotallymounted on the frame of the machine so that the stripping elements aremovable from their operative positions, where they contact the undersideof the coating roller in back of the line of contact of the latter withthe successive sheets to be coated, to cleaning positions where thestripping elements are disposed in front of the coating roller and,therefore, are easily accessible, while the feed rollers have theopposite ends of their shafts rotatably journalled in a second pair ofarms which are pivotally suspended from the first pair of arms and whichmove with the latter in order to displace the feed rollers from theiroperative positions disposed under the coating roller to accessiblecleaning positions in front of the coating roller. Further, inaccordance with the invention, the piovting axis of the first pair ofarms is preferably disposed at an elevation above the locations of thestripping elements and feed rollers in both their operative and cleaningpositions so that the displacement of the stripping elements and feedrollers between such positions may be conveniently effected by forcesapplied to the first pair of pivoted arms generally in the forward andrearward directions. Such forces for displacing the stripping elementsand feed rollers between their operative and cleaning positions areconveniently applied through links pivotally connected to the first pairof arms and extending forwardly therefrom for manual actuation by theoperator, and the actuating links are preferably provided with spacedapart notches which are selectively engageable with a cross membermounted on the frame of the machine in order to retain the pivoted armsin the angular positions corresponding to the operative and cleaningpositions, respectively, of the stripping elements and feed rollers.

The above, and other objects, features and advan- (rages of theinvention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an adhesive applying machineembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showingthe opposite side of the adhesive applying machine;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the adhesive applying machine of FIGS. 1and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical, sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3,and showing the stripping elements and feed rollers thereof in theiroperative positions; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing thestripping elements and feed rollers in their cleaning positions.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theillustrated adhesive applying machine, there generally identified by thereference numeral 10, includes side frame members 12 and 14 lying invertical, spaced apart, parallel planes. An adhesive pick-up roll 16 hasa shaft 18 which, at its opposite ends, is rotatably journalled insuitable bearings carried by arms 20 and 2-2 pivotally suspended frompivots 24 and 26 carried by the side frame members 12 and 14,respectively, at the top thereof. Lengths of chains 28 and 30 areconnected, at one end, to the pivoted arms 20 and 22, respectively, and,at the other end, to sprockets 32 and 34 which are secured to theopposite ends of a shaft 36 extending horizontally between side framemembers 12 and 14 and rotatably journalled in the latter. A radiallyextending handle 38 is secured to one end of shaft 3 6 and is manuallyturnable between a normal operating position (:FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) wherethe handle abuts against a stop 40 carried by the adjacent side framemember 12, and a cleaning position (FIG. 5). When turning the handle 38from the normal operating position to the cleaning position thereof,shaft 36 is turned in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and5, so that the chains 28 and 30 are wound upon the related sprockets 32and 34, thereby to swing the arms 20 and 22, respectively, in the upwardand rearward direction, as is apparent in FIG. 5.

When the handle 38 is in its normal operating position, the chains 28and 30 are slack, as is apparent in FIGS. 1, Z and 4, and the normaloperating position of each of the arms 20 and 22-, and hence of theadhesive pick-up roll 16, is determined by the adjustment of set screws42 extending threadably through the arms 20 and 22 and abutting againsta vertical surface or shoulder 44 provided on each of the adjacent sideframe members 12 and 14.

In order to hold the handle 38 in its cleaning position (FIG. 5), theadjacent side frame member 12 carries a laterally extending plunger 46which is yieldably urged by a spring 48 (FIG. 3) to a position where theplunger 46 projects into the path of swinging movement of handle 38.However, the plunger 46 is movable laterally toward the side framemember 12 for removal from the path of movement of handle 38 so that,when moving the handle 38 from its normal operating position to itscleaning position, the handle is turned clockwise, as viewed in FIGS. 4and 5, while the plunger 46 is manually depressed until the handlereaches a position in front of the plunger 46, whereupon release of thelatter permits the plunger to return into the path of movement of handle38 and to then act as a stop for preventing counterclockwise turning ofhandle 38 from its cleaning position, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

A horizontal shelf 50* extends between side frame members 12 and 14below the normal operating position of adhesive pick-up roll 16, and anupwardly opening adhesive or glue reservoir 52 is slidably supported onshelf 50 and normally abuts against an upstanding ledge 54 extendingalong the front edge of the latter, as illustrated in FIG. 4. With thereservoir 52 in its normal position on shelf 50, and with the adhesivepick-up roll 16 in its normal operating position, the latter dips intothe supply of glue or adhesive in reservoir 52. However, when thepick-up roll 16 is moved rearwardly and upwardly by turning of handle 38to its cleaning position, as in FIG. 5, the bottom of roll 16 isdisposed above the level of the top edge of the front wall of reservoir5' 2 so that the latter can be slidab ly removed in the rearwarddirection from the shelf 50, thereby to facilitate cleaning. of thereservoir and of the pick-up roll.

The illustrated adhesive applying machine 10 further includes a firstadhesive transfer roll 56 extending parallel to pick-up roll 16 andhaving a shaft 58 which, at its opposite ends, is rotatably journallledin suitable fixed bearings can ied by side frame members 12 and 14. Itis apparent that adjustment of the set screws 42 carried by the pivotedarms 20 and 22 and determining the normal operating position of pick-uproll 16 will establish the normal operating clearance between rolls 16and 56 and thereby determine the thickness of the layer of adhesive orglue deposited from roll 16 upon the first transfer roll 56. As isapparent in FIG. 4, the axis of rotation of first transfer roll 56 is ata level above that of the axis of pick-up roll 16 when the latter is inits normal operating position, as roll 56 must clear the top edge of thefront wall of reservoir 52. Since the illustrated machine 10 is intendedfor applying coatings of glue or adhesive to the top surfaces ofsuccessive sheets which move rearwardly under shelf 50 supportingreservoir 52, as hereinafter described in detail, it is necessary thatthe coating roll 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5) be disposed at a level substantiallybelow that of the first transfer roll 56 and, accordingly, a secondtransfer roll 62 is provided between the rolls 56 and 60. The coatingroll 60 and the second transfer roll 62 have shafts 64 and 66,respectively, which, at their opposite ends, are rotatably journalled insuitable bearings carried by side frame members 12 and 14, and suchbearings (not shown) are preferably of a well known adjustable type inorder to permit adjustment of the clearances between the transfer rolls56 and 62 and between transfer roll 62 and coating roll 60.

As indicated by the arrows on FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, rolls 56, 60 and 62 areall rotated in the same direction and at the same relatively high speed,while pick-up roll 16 is rotated in the opposite direction at arelatively slow speed. The coating roll 60 is rotatably driven in themanner hereinafter described in detail, and the shaft 64 thereof carriesa sprocket 68- (FIG. 2) driving an endless chain 70 which runs onsprockets 72 and 74 secured to the shafts 58 and 66:, respectively, ofrolls 56 and 62, and which also runs around an idler sprocket 76rotatably mounted on a stub shaft extending outwardly from the adjacentside frame member 12. Thus, rolls 56 and 62 are rotatably driven fromcoating roll 60. The pick-up roll 16 is rotatably driven from the firsttransfer roll 56 as, for this purpose, the end of shaft 58 of the firsttransfer roll rotatably mounted in side frame member 14 carries a spurgear 78 (FIGS. 1 and 3) meshing with a larger spur gear 80 fixed on theadjacent end of shaft 18 of pick-up roll 16.

The adhesive applying machine 10 has a movable conveyor extendingrearwardly from below the coating roll 60 and operative to carry awaythe successive sheets following the application of glue or adhesive tothe upper surfaces thereof by coating roll 60. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, such conveyor is of the endless belt typeand includes a conveyor" drive roll 82 disposed below, and slightly tothe rear of, the coating roll 60 and having a shaft 84 which isrotatably journalled in suitable bearings carried by side frame members12 and 14, and an endless belt 86 which runs around the conveyor driveroll 82 and has oppositely moving upper and lower horizontal runsextending to a conveyor roll (not shown) at a location where the coatedsheets are removed from the conveyor. In order to effect rotation of theconvcyor drive roll 82, the end of the shaft 84 thereof extendingthrough side frame member 14 carries a drive pulley 88 (FIGS. 1, 2 and3) which is engaged by a drive belt 90 running around a pulley on theshaft of an electric motor (not shown) or other prime mover. The end ofthe shaft 84 extending through side frame member 12 carries a spur gear92 (FIGS. 2 and-3) meshing with a spur gear 94 fixed on the adjacent endof the shaft 64 of coating roll 60 so that the latter is rotatablydriven from the conveyor drive roll 82.

The successive sheets which are to have coatings of glue or adhesiveapplied to the upper surfaces thereof by the coating roll 60 aremanually moved rearwardly toward the latter on a removable table orsupporting surface 96 extending horizontally between forward portions ofside frame members 12 and 14 approximately level with the bottom of thesurface of roll 60. The rear edge of table 96 is spaced from the surfaceof coating roll 60, and two relatively small diameter feed rollers 98and 100 are normally disposed under roll 60, as in FIG. 4, so that,during the application of glue or adhesive to the upper surfaces of thesuccessive sheets by roll 60, the sheets are supported, and movedrearwardly by the feed rollers 98 and 100 which are rotatably driven, ashereinafter described in detail, whereupon the coated sheets aredeposited upon the rearwardly moving upper run of the conveyor belt 86for discharge from the adhesive applying machine. In order to ensurethat the successive sheets will not adhere to the surface of coatingroll 60 following their passage between the coating roll and the feedrollers 98 and 100, the machine 10 further includes a series ofstripping .elements 102 arranged in a laterally extending row andengaging the coating roll in back of the normal op erating positions ofthe feed rollers 98 and 100.

It will be apparent that the feed rollers 98 and 100 and the strippingelements 102, being respectively located under and in back of coatingroll 60 during operation of the adhesive applying machine areinaccessible for cleaning purposes. However, in a machine of thedescribed character relatively frequent cleaning of the feed rollers andthe stripping elements is a necessity.

In order to make the feed rollers 98 and 100 and the stripping elements102 conveniently accessible for the cleaning thereof, the illustratedmachine 10 embodying the invention provides a swingable mounting for thefeed rollers and stripping elements so that, following the removal ofthe table 96, the feed rollers 98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102may be easily moved forwardly to the accessible cleaning positionsillustrated in FIG. 5.

The swingable mounting for the feed rollers and stripping elementsincludes a first pair of arms 104 which are pivotally mounted, at oneend, on stub shafts 106 projecting laterally inward from the side framemembers 12 and 14, and a second pair of arms 108 each of which ispivotally mounted, at one end, on a pivot pin 110 carried by an car 112projecting forwardly from the pivoted end portion of the related arm104. Thus, the arms 104 and 108 are swingable together about the stubshafts 106 for movement in vertical planes adjacent the inside surfacesof the side frame members 12 and 14. The stripping elements 102 arepivotally mounted on a rod 114 extending between the free end portionsof the first pair of arms 104, and each of the stripping elements 102has a' leaf spring 116 extending therefrom (FIGS. 4'and 5) and bearingagainst a rod 118 which also extends laterally between the free ends ofthe arms 104 so that, when the arms 104 are in their operativepositions, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the springs 116 yieldably urge thestripping elements 102 against the surface of coating roll 60. l

. The feed rollers 98 and 100 have trunnions (not shown) at theiropposite ends which are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carriedby the arms 108 in the free end portions of the latter so that, when thearms 108 are in their operative positions illustrated in FIG. 4, theparallel feed rollers 98 and 100 will be disposed under coating roll 60.

In order to determine the angular position of the arms 108 relative tothe arms 104, each of the arms 108 has an adjustment screw threadedtherethrough and rotatably connected to the related arm 104. Thus, whenthe arms 104 are moved to their operative position of FIG. 4, ashereinafter described in detail, the screws 120 can be turned toangularly adjust the arms 108 with respect to the arms 104 and therebyto adjust the clearance between the feed rollers 98 and 100 and thecoating roll 60 for accommodating the machine 10 to the handling ofsheets having different thicknesses.

In order to conveniently effect the swinging movement of the pairs ofarms 104 and 108 for displacing the feed rollers and stripping elementsbetween their operative and cleaning positions, the machine 10 embodyingthe invention further has a laterally extending handle 122 joined, atits opposite ends, to the forward ends of rearwardly extending links 124which are pivotally connected, as at 126, to the arms 104 (FIGS. 4 and5). Each of the links 124 has two downwardly opening, spaced apartnotches 128 and 130 cut in the lower edge thereof and adapted toselectively receive a cross bar 132 extending between the forward edgesof side frame members 12 and 14. The notches 128 and 130 are suitablylocated along the links 124 so that, when the notches 128 receive thecross bar 132, as in FIG. 4, the feed rollers 98 and '100 and thestripping elements 102 are located in their operative positions, and,when the notches 130 of the links 124 receive the cross bar 132, as inFIG. 5, the feed rollers and stripping elements are held in theiraccessible cleaning positions. It will be seen that the pivoting axis ofthe arms 104 and 108 defined by the stub shafts 106 is disposed abovethe feed rollers and the stripping elements in both the operative andcleaning positions thereof (FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively), and that thepivotal connections 126 of the links 124 to the arms 104 are spaced radially from the stub shafts 106 so that the movement of the feed rollersand stripping elements between their operative and cleaning positionscan be conveniently effected merely by raising the handle 122 in orderto remove the cross bar 132 from engagement with one or the other of therecesses 128 and 130, and then exerting either a push or pull upon thehandle 122 depending upon the direction of movement to be imparted tothe feed rollers and stripping elements. After the feed rollers andstripping elements have been moved either to their operative or cleaningpositions, as described above, the handle 122 is merely lowered toengage the cross bar 132 either in the notches 128 or the notches 130 ofthe links 124. V

In the adhesive applying machine 10, the feed rollers 98 and 100 arepositively rotated in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows onFIG. 1, so that, when a sheet is manually advanced over the table 96 toa point where the leading edge thereof is gripped between the feedrollers and the coating roll 60, the sheet is thereafter positivelydriven by the rotated feed rollers and coating roll While the latterapplies glue or adhesive to the sheet. In order to effect the rotationof the feed rollers 98 and 100, a gear 134 is fixed on the shaft 66 ofthe second transfer roll 62 (FIGS. 3,4 and 5) at a location on suchshaft between roll 62 and the inner surface of side frame member 12 andmeshes with a relatively small spur gear 136 which is rotatably mountedon the stub shaft 104 carried by side frame member 12 and forming thepivotal support for the arm 104 disposed adjacent that side framemember. The gear 136 meshes in turn with a spur gear 138 which isrotatable on the pin 7 110 carried by the adjacent arm 104, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, and the gear 138 meshes with a gear 140 which isrotatable on a stub shaft 142 carried by the arm 108. A sprocket 144 isalso rotatable on the stub shaft 142 and is joined to the gear 140 forrotation with the latter, and an endless chain 146 runs around thedriven sprocket 144 and engages sprockets 148 and 150 which are fixed onthe trunnions at one end of the feed rollers 98 and 100, respectively.Thus, the feed rollers 98 and 100 are rotated from the second transferroll 62 through a gear and sprocket and chain transmission which remainsengaged during the swinging movements of the feed rollers and strippingelements between their operative and cleaning positions. 7

It will be apparent that, in the machine 10 described above, the feedrollers 98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102 can be easily movedfrom their operative positions of FIG. 4 to their cleaning positions ofFIG. merely by manipulation of the handle 122 following removal of thetable 96, and that the pick-up roll 16 can be moved from its operativeposition of FIG. 4 to its cleaning position of FIG. 5 merely bymanipulation of the handle 38, whereupon the feed rollers and strippingelements are readily accessible for thorough cleaning thereof, while thetank or reservoir 52 can be rearwardly removed from under the pick-uproll 16 in order to permit cleaning of the latter and of the reservoir.Since the feed rollers 98 and 100 and the stripping elements 102 arerelatively light in weight, such parts of the machine can be moved fromtheir operative positions to their cleanin positions and then returnedto their operative positions with the exertion of relatively smallforces so that the movements of the feed rollers and stripping elementsbetween their operative and cleaning positions may be easily efi'ected,even by female operators. It will also be apparent that, since onlyrelatively light weight elements or parts of the machine are beingdisplaced in order to make the feed rollers and stripping elementsaccessible for cleaning purposes, the mechanism for effecting suchdisplacement need not apply a substantial mechanical advantage so thatthe relatively simple structure consisting of the handle 122 and links124 connected directly to the arms 104 may be adopted, thereby todecrease the cost of the assembly as well as to reduce the time requiredfor moving the feed rollers and stripping elements to and from theircleaning positions. Thus, the adhesive applying machine need beinoperative for only a relatively short period of time when cleaning isrequired.

Since the coating roll 60 and the transfer rolls 56 and 62 are rotatablysupported in bearings carried by fixed parts of theframe of the machine,as distinguished from the previous attempts to provide cleaning accessto the feed rollers and stripping elements in machines of the describedcharacter, wherein the rolls 56, 62 and 60 a were vertically movableaway from their operative positions, it is apparent that the supportsfor the rollers 56, 62 and 60 may be made suitably rigid to prevent anyvibration of the machine, and that the bearings therefor may be of atype having a long useful life in order to avoid the occurrence of playin the support for the rolls 56, 62 and 60 and a consequent variation inthe clearances therebetween. This aspect of the machine embodying theinvention is of particular importance in View of the fact that thetransfer rolls 58 and 62 and the coating roll 60 all rotate in the samedirection so that there is a wiping action between their surfaces and apredetermined clearance, for example, a clearance of approximately .001inch, should be maintained between the surfaces of the transfer rolls 56and 62 and between the surfaces. of transfer roll 62 and coating roll 60in order to ensure the transfer of an adequate coating of adhesive orglue to the coating roll.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to that preciseembodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention,except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the described character-having a coating rollrotatable about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coatingsubstance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter sothat the coating roll can apply such substance to the upper surface ofsheet material fed tangential to said surface of the coating roll at thebottom of the latter, feed roller means normally disposed below saidcoating roll to support and feed the sheet material during theapplication of the coating substance to its upper surface; and strippingelements normally disposed in back of said coating roll to engage thelatter adjacent the bottom thereof and to separate the sheet materialtherefrom following the application of the coating substance to thesheet material; the improvement comprising pivotally mounted supportmeans carrying said stripping elements and swing'able about an axisparallel to said axis of the coating roll to displace the strippingelements along a path extending under said coating roll from the normalposition of the stripping elements to an exposed cleaning position infront of the coating roll, means supporting said feed roller means fromsaid pivotally mounted support means so that, upon swinging of thelatter, said feed roller means is displaced with said stripping elementsfrom its normal position to an exposed cleaning position in front of thecoating roll, and manually actuable means connected to said supportmeans for swinging the latter to selectively dispose said strippingelements and feed roller means in said normal andcleaning positions.

2. In a machine of the described character having a coating rollrotatable about a fixed horizontal axis, means for applying a coatingsubstance to the surface of said coating roll from above the latter sothat the coating roll can apply such substance to the upper sunface ofsheet material fed tangential to said surface of the coating roll at thebottom of the latter, feed roller means normally disposed below saidcoating roll to support and feed the sheet material during theapplication of the coating substance to its upper surface, andstrippingelements normally disposed in back of said coating roll toengage the latter adjacent the bottom thereof and to separate the sheetmaterial therefrom following the application of the coating substance tothe sheet material; the improvement comprising pivotally mounted supportmeans carrying said stripping elements and swingable about an axisparallel to said axis of the coating roll to displace the strippingelements along a path extending under said coating roll from the normalposition of the stripping elements to an exposed cleaning position infront of the coating roll, mounting means for said feed roller meansmovably connected to said pivotally mounted support means of thestripping elements so that said feed roller means moves with the latterbetween said normal and exposed cleaning positons, adjusting means formoving said'mounting means for the feed roller means relative to saidsupport means for the stripping elements so that, with said feed rollermeans in said normalposition, the clearance between said feed rollermeans'and coating roll can be varied, and manually actuable meansconnected to said support means for swinging the latter to selectivelydispose said stripping elements and feed roller means in said normal andcleaning positions.

3. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coatingroll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis,means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coatingroll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in operativeposition below said coating roll so that sheet material fed between saidcoating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by the latter whilesaid coating roll ap plies the coating substance to the upper surface ofthe sheet material, and stripping elements normally disposed in anoperative position where they engage the bottom portion of said coatingroll in back of said feed rollers; the improvement comprising a firstpair of arms supporting said stripping elements and pivot-ally mountedon said frame to swing about a lateral axis parallel to said axis of thecoating roll and disposed above said operative position of saidstripping elements and lying in front of a vertical plane passingthrough said axis of rotation of said coating roll so that saidstripping elements can move under said coating roll to a cleaningposition in front of the latter in response to swinging of said pair ofarms, means suspending said feed rollers from said pair of arms so thatsaid feed rollers move with said stripping elements to a cleaningposition in front of said coating roll, actuating means connected tosaid pair of arms for manually effecting the swinging of the latter, andmeans on said frame cooperating with said actuating means to selectivelyhold said stripping elements and feed rollers in said operative andcleaning positions thereof.

4. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coatingroll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis,means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coatingroll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in anoperative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fedbetween said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by thelatter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to theupper surface of the sheet material, and stripping elements normallydisposed in an operative position where they engage the bottom portionof said coating roll in back of said feed rollers; the improvementcomprising a first pair of arms supporting said stripping elements andpivotally mounted on said frame to swing about a lateral axis parallelto said axis of rotation of the coating roll and disposed above saidoperatve position of said stripping elements and lying in front of avertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of said coating rollso that said stripping elements can move under said coating roll to acleaning position in front of the latter in response to swinging of saidpair of arms, a second pair of arms carrying said feed rollers andpivotally mounted on said first pair of arms to swing relative to thelatter about an axis parallel to the swinging axis of said first pair ofarms, means adjustably determining the angular position of said secondpair of arms with respect to said first pair of arms so that said feedrollers move with said stripping elements to a cleaning position infront of said coating roll upon swinging of said first pair of arms andthe clearance between said coating roll and said feed rollers foraccommodating the sheet material with said feed rollers in saidoperative positions may be varied by said means adjustably determiningthe angular position of said second pair of arms with respect to saidfirst pair of arms, actuating means connected to said first pair of armsfor manually effecting the swinging of the latter, and means on saidframe cooperating with said actuating means to selectively hold thelatter in positions respectively corresponding to said operative andcleaning positions of said stripping elements and feed rollers.

5. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coatingroll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis,means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coatingroll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in anoperative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fedbetween said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by thelatter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to theupper surface of the sheet material, and stripping elements normallydisposed in an operative position where they engage the bottom portionof said coating roll in back of said feed rollers;

the improvement comprising a first pair of arms support ing saidstripping elements and pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about alateral axis parallel to said axis of rotation of the coating roll anddisposed above said operative position of said stripping elements andlying in front of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotationof said coating roll so that said stripping elements can move under saidcoating roll to a cleaning position in front of the latter in responseto swinging of said pair of arms, a second pair of arms carrying saidfeed rollers and pivotally mounted on said first pair of arms to swingrelative to the latter about an axis parallel to the swinging axis ofsaid first pair of arms, means adjustably deter-1 mining the angularposition of said second pair of arms with respect to said first pair ofarms so that said feed rollers move with said strippng elements to acleaning position in front of said coating roll upon swinging of saidfirst pair of arms and the clearance between said coating roll and saidfeed rollers with the latter in said operative positions may be variedby said means adjustably determining the angular position of said secondpair of arms with respect to said first pair of arms, actuating meansincluding links pivotally connected to said first pair of arms andextending forwardly from the latter so that said first pair of arms canbe swung by forward and rearward movement imparted manually to saidlinks, and a laterally extending member on said frame under said links,said links having downwardly opening notches at spaced apart locationstherealong and adapted to selectively receive said laterally extendingmember for holding said stripping elements and feed rollers in eithertheir operative or cleaning positions.

6. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coatingroll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis,means for app-lying a coating substance to the surface of said coatingroll from above the latter, feed rollers normally disposed in anoperative position below said coating roll so that sheet material fedbetween said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed by thelatter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to theupper surface of the sheet material, and stripping elements normallydisposed in an operative position where they engage the bottom portionof said coating roll in back of said feed rollers; the improvementcomprising a first pair of arms supporting said stripping elements andpivotally mounted on said frame to swing about a lateral axis parallelto said axis of rotation of the coating roll and disposed above saidoperative position of said stripping elements and lying in front of avertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of said coating rollso that said stripping elements can move under said coating roll to acleaning position in front of the latter in response to swinging of saidpair of arms, means suspending said feed rollers from said pair of armsso that said feed rollers move with said stripping elements to acleaning position in front of said coating roll, actuating meansincluding links pivo-tally connected to said arms and extendingforwardly from the latter so that said arms can be swingably displacedby forward and rearward movement imparted manually to said links, and alaterally extending member on said frame under said links, said linkshaving downwardly opening notches at spaced apart locations therealongand adapted to receive said laterally extending member for holding saidstripping elements and feed rollers in either their operative orcleaning positions.

7. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coatingroll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis,means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coatingroll, feed rollers normally disposed in an operative position below saidcoating roll so that sheet material fed between said coating roll andfeed rollers is supported and fed by the latter while said coating rollapplies the coating substance to the upper surface of the sheetmaterial, stripping elements, and resilient means urging said Strippingelements into a normally disposed operative position where they engagethe bottom of said coating roll in back of said feed rollers to effectseparation of the sheet material from the coating roll as it is fedbetween the latter and the feed rollers; the improvement comprising apair of arms supporting said stripping elements and said resilient meansand pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about an axis parallel tosaid axis of the coating roller for displacing the stripping elementsalong a path extending under the coating roll from said operativeposition to a cleaning position remote from said coating roll inresponse to swinging of said pair of arms, actuating means includinglinks pivotally connected to said arms and extending forwardly from thelatter so that said arms can be swingably displaced by forward andrearward movement imparted manually to said links, and a laterallyextending member on said frame under said links, said links havingengaging means at spaced apart locations therealong and adapted toengage said laterally extending member for holding said strippingelements in either their operative or cleaning positions.

8. In a machine of the described character having a frame, a coatingroll mounted in said frame for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis,means for applying a coating substance to the surface of said coatingroll from above the latter, and feed rollers normally disposed in anoperative position below said coating roll so that sheet 12 materialcfed between said coating roll and feed rollers is supported and fed bythe latter while said coating roll applies the coating substance to theupper surface of the sheet material; the improvement comprising a pairof arms supporting said feed rollers and pivotally mounted on said frameto swing about an axis parallel to said axis of the coating roller fordisplacing said feed rollers along a path extending under the coatingroll from their said operative position to a cleaning position in frontof said a coating roll, actuating means including links pivotallyconnected to said arms and extending forwardly from the latter so thatsaid arms can be swingably displaced by forward and rearward movementimparted manually to said links, and a laterally extending member onsaid frame under said links, said links having downwardly openingnotches at spaced apart locations therealong and adapted to receive saidlaterally extending member for holding said feed rollers in either theiroperative or cleaning positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,044,472 Ettl June 16 1936 2,225,457 Langsner Dec. 17, 1940 2,316,531Nivling Apr. 13, 1943 2,368,759 Haessler Feb. 6, 1945 2,731,945 SchaeferIan. 24, 1956 2,827,010 Schaefer Mar. 18, 1958

